El Cerrito firm Marine Advanced Research, in partnership with Hewlett-Packard, has developed the extremely rad Wave Adaptive Modular Vehicle or WAM-V class marine vessel. The prototype, named Proteus, is currently on its maiden voyage, having arrived in New York Harbor on September 6.
From the press release:
Unlike conventional boats, the hulls of a WAM-V™ conform to the surface of the water. A WAM-V does not push, slap or pierce the waves. She utilizes flexibility to adapt her structure and shape to the water surface. Instead of forcing the water to conform to the hull, she gives and adjusts; she “dances” with the waves.
A superstructure is flexibly connected to specially designed pontoons by several components that actually move in relation to one another. A WAM-V™ has springs, shock absorbers and ball joint to articulate the vessel and mitigate stresses to structure, payload and crew. Two engine pods, containing the propulsion and ancillary systems, are fastened to the hulls with special hinges that keep the propellers in the water at all times.
It's cool. Check it out, and imagine one ten times the size, riding on big waves:WAM-V Proteus in action
Marine Advanced Research site
More video at PRNewswire
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